TEXT MARKETING BEST PRACTICES

SMS MARKETING

In this world of expansive and innovative new and best ways of reaching potential customers, technology has provided a simple and easy solution to reaching massive amounts of clients almost effortlessly: SMS Marketing Best Practices. Everyone has a cell phone in this day and age, and instead of sending out massive email blasts and hoping that some make it through the SPAM net, it is known that SMS Marketing Text Alerts have become one of the most useful and simplest forms of Mass Marketing. This, of course, also means that with new forms of marketing come new rules of engagement.

1. Consent

People have to give their consent to receive SMS Marketing text alerts. Not only is this done to prevent breaking laws and incurring fines and penalties, but it also ensures that only clients who are interested in your product or services are receiving the message. This keeps your brand name strong, as it eliminates the backlash of annoyed customers bombarded with your business’ ads unwillingly. Consent can be given through the texting of a keyword to your business shortcode to agree to receive promotional text messages. Although you do not need consent for transaction messages, such as appointment reminders or noncommercial messages, you still need to have consent before contacting through text message.

2. Opt-out

You also need to allow your subscribers the ability to opt-out of your text messaging list, usually by texting the word “STOP” to end the subscription. By allowing your customers the freedom to either receive or not receive your text messages, your company is seen in a better light then pushier, showy businesses with no regard for customer personal bubbles.

3. Disclaimers

Clients must also be aware of the fact that it might cost them to receive text messages, even though they have unlimited text message plan. This is required by the CTIA, but also a way to ensure that your clients do not get angered if they unwillingly and unknowingly get charged extra fees on their phone bill.

4. Frequency

In the practice of not alienating or annoying your potential customers and subscribers, the amount of text message advertisements being sent should be limited to no more than 2-4 per month. This amount also needs to be explicitly explained to the subscribers to avoid infringing on your company’s terms and agreements for your text message marketing conditions.

5. Timing

The Text Message Alerts should also only be sent during normal business hours, which can avoid annoying 1 AM texts that subscribers can’t even respond to in a timely manner. The entire focus of text message marketing is to ensure that customers are alerted when there are special deals or events your business is offering exclusively to their subscribers; this trust can be easily broken the moment the subscriber feels annoyed or that they have their privacy infringed upon.

6. Content

Companies must also make sure that every text is meaningful, concise, and clear enough to get the message across. Ensure that all SMS marketing text alerts are not written in “text lingo”, which makes your business and your offers look less appealing and less professional.

7. Identification

Include your company’s name to ensure that new customers will know who you are. You should include your event name, address, contact information, and links to your messages as well.

Overall, this new era of technological advancement is a gift that cannot be taken lightly and should be treated with respect. Make sure that you get your point across in your text messages clearly, professionally, with timing and efficiently, instead of too frequently, unprofessionally, without consent, and against the terms and conditions of your agreements. By following all the codes and conducts, your company can be reaping the reward instead of paying the penalties.

A perfect Text Marketing message must contain; Business name (MomoKitchen), location (SoHo, NY), offer (free dessert), requirement (free dessert with purchase of entree), expiry if any (expires on 1/15/2014), coupon redeem instructions etc. and Reply STOP to cancel. Msg&data rates may apply. Sometimes a 160 characters SMS is not enough to fit all the information, in that case use MMS marketing a perfect way to delivery coupons.

*Msg&data rates may apply in the US. Standard message and data rates apply in Canada. To unsubscribe from an TXTImpact list, reply STOP to the originating short code. Copyright 2006-19 TXTImpact - All Rights Reserved.